The Best Things To Do in Cobh, Ireland - According To A Local

I have been blessed to live in Cobh, Ireland, all my life. It's a beautiful place to live and I could never imagine not seeing those sea views every day.

Cobh is one of the most well-known tourist spots in Cork, Ireland and during cruise season, the town is full of hustle and bustle. So, what are the best things to do in Cobh? Well, according to a local, it's the lesser famous attractions that make Cobh a beautiful place to visit and enjoy. And I'm here to tell you all about them.

See the most beautiful hydrangeas overlooking the harbour
Cobh has one of the most beautiful views in the world, overlooking the second-bigger natural harbour in the world Cork Harbour. That view is made even more spectacular with the addition of the most beautifully coloured hydrangeas you could ever find during the summer months.

Right before the Titanic Memorial Garden is a bench area and a wall covered in beautiful hydrangeas. It makes for stunning photos of the sea and the flowers and a great one for pretty photo opportunities. This is also a really quiet old part of the town and is a lovely place to sit and look out at the harbour before or after a visit to the Titanic Memorial Garden.

Admire the beautiful 'Deck of Cards' houses
One of the most famous sites in Cobh are the beautiful 'Deck of Cards' houses with a view of St. Colman's Cathedral in the background. If you make your way to Westview Park you can get all your perfect picture opportunities and have a sit down and enjoy the view.

You used to be able to climb up the bank in the park to take photos, but the park has been newly done up and the bank is closed off. You can still take lovely photos though - the above photo was taken from the park.

Grab a bite to eat
Cobh has lots of lovely places to eat and if you don't want to sit inside, there's lots of beautiful outdoor areas where you can enjoy your food too. You could grab an ice-cream from one of the ice-cream shops along the town, or some cake and other sweet treats from one of the food stalls that visit the Promenade.

If you're looking for chipper food to enjoy by the sea I highly recommend Mimmos and their Mexican chips and cheese - it's a favourite in our house. If you want a restaurant meal, The Quays has a beautiful outdoor seating area overlooking the sea and has lovely food. Seasalt is a lovely spot for breakfast and has delicious cakes too.

Take a walk in Marlogue Woods
If you're coming to Cobh with children and want to explore more of the Great Island then a walk in Marlogue Woods is a must. It's a really beautiful woodland to walk and with paths that lead right down to the sea, you can really make a day of it with a packed picnic.

With dens and abandoned houses to climb and explore, there's lots to keep little explorers happy and it's a beautiful spot for a walk.


Enjoy some peace and quiet in The Bible Garden
This is a beautiful spot that I'm sure even the locals forget about! The Bible Garden is situated on the grounds of a convent and is a lovely free place to visit and enjoy some peace and quiet time.

There's lots of beautiful flowers and trees planted here and a pond with benches around it dedicated to the memory of loved ones who have passed. I have never met anyone else on my visits to here which makes it a great place if you're in need of a bit of beautiful solitude. Spring and summer are particularly lovely times to visit with the blossom trees and clematis in bloom. There's also lovely views of St. Colman's Cathedral from this spot too.

These are just a handful of things you can do in Cobh, but these are some of my favourites.

If you want to venture further afield within the Cobh area then you could take a boat to Spike Island - booking in advance is a must because this sells out quick!

Just off the bridge from Cobh is one of our favourite places, Fota House and Gardens and Fota Wildlife Park, which make for amazing days out each themselves.